Napoleon's occupation of Egypt, processes were set in motion between East and West that still dominate our contemporary cultural and political perspectives. And the Napoleonic expedition, with its great collective monument of erudition, the Description de l'Égypte, provided a scene or setting for Orientalism.. Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in 1798 and his foray into Syria have had by far the greater consequence for the modern history of Orientalism." Mamelukes in French service Colonel Barthelemy Serra took the first steps towards creating a Mameluke Corps in France. On September 27, 1800, he wrote a letter from Cairo to the first consul, couched in an Oriental style. He regretted being very far away from Napoleon and offered his total devotion to the French nation and expressed the Mamelukes' wish to become the bodyguard to the first consul. They wished to serve him as living shields against those who would seek to harm him. The first consul became receptive of admitting a unit of carefully selected cavalrymen as his personal guard. He had an officer pay appropriate respects to the foreign troops and provided Napoleon himself with a full report to the number of refugees. French order of battle British order of battle British Army The British Army in Egypt, as it was known was the colloquial name of the forces under command of General Ralph Abercromby, the armies order of battle in March 1800 was; Commanding General, General Ralph Abercromby Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General H. Hutchinson Cavalry Division Cavalry Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Edward Finch 11th Light Dragoons 12th (The Prince of Wales's) Light Dragoons 26th Light Dragoons Hompesch's Hussars (3 Sqns) Infantry Division Guards Brigade, commanded by Major General Ludlow 1st Battalion, Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards 1st Brigade, commanded by Major General Eyre Coote 1st (Royal) Regiment of Foot 54th (West Norfolk) Regiment of Foot 92nd (Gordon Highlanders) Regiment of Foot 2nd Brigade, commanded by Major General John Cradock, 1st Baron Howden 8th (The King's) Regiment of Foot 13th (1st Somersetshire, Prince Albert's Light Infantry) Regiment of Foot 90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers) 3rd Brigade, commanded by Major General Richard Lambart, 7th Earl of Cavan 2nd (Queen's Royal) Regiment of Foot 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Foot 79th (Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders) Regiment of Foot 4th Brigade, commanded by Major General Sir John Doyle, 1st Baronet 18th (The Royal Irish)